MIAMI, GARDENS, Fla.- The No. 2 Southeastern University baseball team set the tone in the series opener on the road versus the No. 18 St. Thomas University Bobcats. The Fire took game one of The Sun Conference Baseball Series of the Week 10-6.
The Fire scored their 10 runs on 17 hits, the most cumulative base hits SEU has posted in a TSC contest this season. On the night, the Fire hit .455 (5-11) with runners in scoring position.
"I think our bats did a great job picking up for our mistakes," commented SEU head coach
Adrian Dinkel. "It was good to see us find a way to win on the road versus a really good team."
Southeastern got out to an early lead thanks to an RBI-single in the top of the second by junior catcher
Shamir Morales to left-center that scored
Thomas Broyles and put the Fire ahead of the Bobcats 1-0. The Fire tacked on two more in the top of the third thanks to an RBI-single by
Sam Faith and an RBI-groundout from Broyles to grow the early advantage to 3-0.
The Bobcats retaliated with four unanswered runs in the third and fourth frames to take a 4-3 lead over SEU.
Senior designated hitter
Colton Onstott launched his first of two home runs in the top of the fifth inning, a solo shot to left field to knot things up 4-4. STU jumped back out to a 5-4 lead thanks to an RBI grounder in the bottom of the frame.
Senior left-handed relief pitcher
Ryan Munoz continued to be a crucial factor out of the Fire bullpen, tossing six innings of relief for the Fire. Despite conceding a season-high three runs, Munoz posted a clutch stretch of five-straight Bobcats retired during the seventh and eighth frames to keep the STU bats quiet.
In the top of the seventh, the Fire retook the lead 6-5 thanks to Onstott's second long ball of the day. The Potter, Nebraska native drove
Nick Bottari home, who recorded a one-out single earlier in the inning, on a two-run jack to right field. The home run pushed Onstott's season total to eight.
"I was just focusing on hitting the ball up the middle and hitting it hard," shared Onstott. "I want to do anything I can to help us get the win. Tonight was a great team win for us. Everyone had good at-bats and stayed in their approach."
Southeastern tacked on four insurance runs on four hits in the top of the eighth to open the contest up 10-5.
After conceding a run in the bottom of the ninth, Munoz closed out the game with a strikeout to earn the winning decision and improve to 7-0 on the season.
The Fire look to cement the series victory, as they take on the Bobcats in a doubleheader. Game times are scheduled for 12:00 and 3:00 p.m.
